Automatic stitching machine



Dec."2, 1 941. w. R'. SPILLER AUTOMATIC STITCHING MAcgIN'E Filed Aug. 9,1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l 5 10 INVENTOR.

Mum/w E. 5pm 2 ATTORNEY5 Dec. 2, 1941. w. R. SPILLER AUTOMATIC STITCHINGMACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1940 v INVENTOR. Mu new E. 5//4454? ATTORNEY 5 Dec. 2, 1941. w. R. SFIILLER 2,264,776

AUTOMATIC ,STI'ICHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 561.5v INVENTOR,

MLLIHM ESP/LL52 I ATTORNEY5 Dec. 2, 1941. w. R/SPILLER AUTOMATICSTITCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 v INVENTOR. MLL/HMPILLB ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1941.

w. R. SPILLER AUTOMATIC STITCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9; 1940 5Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR.

Mu 10M 8. JP/uEe ATTORNEY 5 rim; Dec. 2, 1941 UNITE STATES PATENT oFFIcE2.264.116 AUTOMATIC STITCHING MACHINE William 1:. Spiller, Dayton. Ohio,usignor to Harris Seybold Potter Company,

Cleveland,

Ohiaa corp ration of Delaware Application August 9, 1940, Serial No.352,001

19 Claims. (01. -u)

This invention relates to improvements inautomatic stitching machines,particularly machines employing a single stitcher head functionany givenset-up of the machine, the machine including a control mechanism whichis geared thereto and is effective throughout any given work cycle, sothat after a predetermined number of stitches has been taken the machinestops automatically. In the machine of the present invention the numberof stitches is not predetermined. It depends upon the length of the workor that part of the work in which stitches are to be taken. It istherefore possible to put through the machine consecutively two piecesof work that differ materially in length without any change ofadjustment in the machine.

One of the objects of the invention therefore is the provision of anautomatic stitching machine having the capacity for handling work piecesof varying length.

Another object of the invention is the provision of stopping mechanismunder control of means which shall be pre-set by work travel to make apredetermined number of stitches, preferably two, after the stoppingaction is inaugurated. l

A further object is the provision of stopping means comprising anelectric circuit which includes one or more contact fingers that aredeiiected by the work and resume normal position when the rear end ofthe work passes them.

Still another object is. the provision of' two such fingers adapted tobe engaged by a side wall first to be released by the work serving toinaugurate the stopping action, whereby the flap may be stitched insideor outside of the box.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with thedescription of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposesof the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a iragmental perspective view of a machineembodying the invention shown in use for stitching the side seam of apaper box.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing particularly the work feeding and'delivery mechanisms and the control parts which are located principallybeneath the table of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a further fragmental perspective view of some of the controlparts.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the open head and 'anvil plate of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 55of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the open head and associatedparts.

Fig. 'l is a diagrammatic perspective view of a cam shaft controlmechanism.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the stitcher headperpendicular to the direction of work travel.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view and wiring diagram illustrating a controlmechanism and circuit which may be employed-in connection with theinvention.

Fig. 11 is a perspective diagrammatic view of control mechanism andwiring connections of a modified form of the invention.

The machine of this invention is adapted for I use upon a variety ofarticles where it is necessary or desirable to form a plurality ofstitches in rapid succession, but is shown herein for use in stitchingthe, side seam of a fiber box such as that illustrated in Fig. 9,wherein a side flap l0 is stitched to the outer side of a wall H of theblank. Sometimes the flap is stitched insid'ethe wall, and the machineof this invention is equally adapted to form a seam of that character.The machine-is so constituted that it begins opera, tion when the workpiece is inserted, alternately forms stitches and feeds the work along agiven and a seam nap of a paper box blank, the finger 5 mount andcontinues such stitching and feeding and Grim above mentioned, to whichreference may be had for a more detailed disclosure.

Referring to Fig. 1, the table of the machine is shown at l2. l3 and I4are adjustable guides for engagement with the folded edges of the work.The stltcher head I5 is shown disposed at an angle of 45 with thedirection of work travel, and is supported upon the free end of a hollowarm |6 through which the drive shaft for the stitching mechanismextends. This shaft is shown at H in Figs. 2 and 10, and is drivenpreferably by an electric motor l8 through plural belts running upon afly-wheel |9 which is loose upon shaft H but is adapted to be lockedthereto by a clutch 26 of any suitable design that may be disengaged bythe upward movement of a throw-out rod 2|.

A pair of feed rollers 22 are mounted below the surface of the table butproject through slots in the table so as to be flush with the tablesurface. They are pinned on a shaft 23 which carries at one end a gear24 that meshes with a gear 25 on another shaft 26, the latter shaftcarrying one of the elements of a one-way clutch or ratchet 21 that isoperated by a crank arm 28. The latter is oscillated by a connecting rod29 eccentrically pivoted to shaft I1 and pivotally connected with ablock 36 that is adjustably mounted on the arm 28 in order to vary theswing of that arm and the consequent feed impulse transmitted by shaft26 to shaft 23.

A pair of delivery rollers 3| carried upon a shaft 32 are mounted foradjustment toward and away from the rollers 22, the shaft 32 beingmounted in a pair of blocks 33 attached to an elongated plate 33', theseparts being adjustable by means of screws 34 that may be turnedsimultaneously by means of bevel gears 35, 36, and a shaft 31, which isprovided at one end with a knurled wheel for facilitating its rotationby an operator. The shaft 32 is driven continuously, and for thispurpose is provided with a sprocket wheel 38 over which runs a chain 39.This chain runs over an idler sprocket 46 and a sprocket 4| mounted on ashort shaft 42 which also carries brackets carry rearward extensions 53of rectangular cross section upon which are mounted ad- Justable blocks54 that carry the drop rolls 66. The rolls 56 may therefore be readilyadjusted to correspond with the adjustment of the rollers 3|. At thestart of a machine operation rock shaft 52 is oscillated by meanspresently to be described to lower the drop rolls 48. After the laststitch is made rock shaft 52 raises rolls 49 andlowers rolls 56.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, wherein the open head of themachine is illustrated, the anvil plate 55 is shown attached along oneedge to the laterally and downwardly extending supporting arm 56. When ablank is inserted into the machine one of its elements, the flap |6 forexample, is caused to ride over the arm 56, and another element, theside wall another sprocket, not herein illustrated, over which runs achain 43 that is driven by a sprocket 44 on a shaft 45, the latter shaftcarrying a sprocket 46 that is driven by a chain 41 from a sprocket 48which turns with fly-wheel l9. The three chains 41, 43 and 39 thereforerun continuously, and the rollers 3| are driven continuously regardlessof their position of adjustment.

The feed rollers 22 are made effective by a pair of drop rolls 49 whichengage the work directly above the feed rollers and exert sufficientpressure to insure good traction, and a pair of drop rolls 56 only oneof which is illustrated in Fig. 2 serve when lowered to press the workagainst delivery rollers 3| and to carry it rapidly out of the machine.brackets 5| which are keyed to 'a-rock shaft 52, being adjustable alongthat shaft so as to better accommodate work of different widths. TheseRollers 49 are mounted on I for example, is caused to extend beneath thearm 56 and above the anvil plate 55. A guide plate 51 secured to thevertical part of arm 56 assists in directing the upper element or flapdownwardlyand also serves as an abutment for a spring finger 58 attachedto arm 56 but insulated therefrom. A second spring finger 59 is alsoattached to and insulated from arm 56 and normally engages plate 55.Each of these fingers is adapted to be diverted from engagement withguide 51 or plate 55, as the case may be, by the respective blankelements to be stitched.

The machine is provided with a cam shaft 66 upon which a gear 6| turnsfreely, this gear being driven through an idler 62 from a pinion 63fixed to shaft |1. As soon as shaft I1 is engagecl gear 6| begins toturn. At that time it is locked to the shaft through a clutch 64 whichhowever may be disengaged by a throw-out rod 65, as will presentlyappear.'

Shaft 66 as herein constituted carries four cams 66, 61, 68 and 69, forcontrolling respectively the main clutch, the lowering and raising ofthe trigger presently to be described, the oscillation of rock shaft 52by which the drop rolls are carried, and the electric circuit comprisingpart of the stopping means.

The main clutch 26 is engaged automatically when the work is inserted inthe machine. This action is effected by a trip finger 16 which is sopositioned as to be engaged by the forward edge of the box blank orother work when the latter is in proper position for the first stitch tobe taken. The trip finger 16 is mounted upon a trip bar 1| that isslidable upon a supporting plate 12. This plate is carried at the upperends of a pair of plungers 13 which are slidable up and down in guides14 that are mounted upon plate 33. Plate 12 is enabled by a pin and slotconnection to move horizontally a short distance, and it does so eachtime a work piece is pushed against trip 16. When this occurs a pin 15projecting laterally from the plate 12 into a bifurcation at the upperend of a bell crank lever 16,

supports the lower end of a rod 81 that is pivotally connected with thecentral part of a lever 89. One end of lever 88 is connected preferablyby a pivot and slot connection with the lower end of clutch throw-outrod 2i, while at its opposite end lever 88 is formed as a yoke in whichis fixed the lower extremity of a short post 8i, the upper,

the crank 98 transmits motion from crank 93 to.

lever 89. On the same shaft with crank 93 there is another crank 95-carrying the follower 96 which runs upon cam 66 and acts to disengagethe clutch at the end of a work operation, as will be explainedhereinafter.

The second cam 61 acts to lower trip finger I9 out of the way of thework as soon as the main clutch is engaged. When the machine is idle afollower I99 rests in a depression in the cam. This follower is mountedintermediate the ends of a link I9I carried at one end upon a fixedpivot and connected at the other end with the upper extremity of a longlink I92 that is pivoted at its lower extremity to a crank I93 on oneend of a shaft I99. The latter shaft is connected by means of two cranksI95 and I96 and an intermediate link III! with a shaft I98 supported inbearings in the machine frame. Shaft I98 has pinned thereto a pair ofarms I99 which carry at their other extremities a rod H9. The lower endsof the plungers I3 are enlarged and have horizontal slots therein toreceive rod H9, so that they move up and down whenever rod I I9 somoves. Directly after the cam shaft starts rotation at the beginning ofa work operation, follower I99 rides out of the depression in cam 61 andraises link I92, thereby oscillating sha'ft I99 clockwise which, throughthe connections previously described, depresses rod I I9. Plungers I3therefore descend and with them the plate I2, the trip finger bar II andthe trip finger I9, a coil spring II I opposing this movement.

As soon as the trip finger I9 is thus disengaged from the work aweighted arm II2 attached by a bracket I I3 to shaft BI works throughthat shaft and the connections 82, 83 and 86 to turn shaft 85 clockwiseand thereby swing trigger 86 up into position to engage rod 81. At thesame time rod I9 is raised and acts through projection I8, bell cranklever I6 and pin I5 to move trip bar II and trip finger I9 forward, sothat they will be in operative position when the cam shaft finishes itsrevolution and the lowering of the follower I99 into the cavity of cam'61 permits spring III 'to raise rod I I9, plungers I3 and the trip barand trip finger.

The third cam 68 controls the oscillations of rock shaft 52 upon whichthe drop'rolls are carried. In the idle position of the machine the highspot of this cam is in engagement with a follower II3 carried upon acrank H4 which is pinned to shaft II5. This shaft also has pinnedthereto a bifurcated crank I I6 which is urged in an anti-clockwisedirection by a tension spring I". The cam however prevents the spring III from acting to pull the crank II6 up against an H9 serves totransmitforce to crank I2I when crank 'II8 swings in the clockwise direction.

In Figs.-' 2 and 3 the angular position of rock shaft 52 is such thatdrop rolls 69 are in operative relation with delivery rollers 3|. Assoon as the cam shaft starts its movement however the high spot of cam68 moves out from under follower II3 permitting cranks II 4 and H6 toturn anti-clockwise, which they do under the influence of spring III,and this movement is communicated to crank I2I and shaft 52, wherebydrop rolls 59 are raised and rolls 49 are lowered to operative position.

The fourth cam 69 is a cam which operates a switch I23 that is normallyopenbut is closed when the high spot of the cam comes into en- ,gagementwith the vertically movable switch element.

Referring now to Fig. 10, I24 and I25 represent 115-volt conductors towhich are connected a step-down transformer I26 for supplying lowvoltage current to a circuit comprising a conductor I2I leading to thetwo spring contact fingers 58 and 59. These fingers are normally inengagement with the grounded parts 51 and 55 respectively, while fromground another conductor I28 extends to a solenoid I 29 and thence backto the transformer. When the low voltage circuit is energized, as it isnormally, the relay I39 is raised and thereby maintains a high voltagecircuit I3I open. In this latter circuit there is another solenoid I32which when energized pulls down an armature I33, thereby swinging alever I39 downwardlyv on its pivot I35 and depressing throw-out rod 65against the action of spring I36.

Operation-The insertion of a work piece into the machine first separatesthe fingers 58 and 59 from the guide 51 and the anvil plate 55,whereupon the relay I 39 drops. Shortly thereafter the front edge of thework engages the trip finger I9,

causing the engagement of the main clutch 29.

Gear 6I then begins to turn and to rotate the cam shaft 69, the clutch64 being normally in engagement, as by the action of a spring bolt.Immediately thereafter cam 61 functions to lower the drop finger 19 outof the way of the work, as previously described.- Also immediately afterthe machine starts the high spot of cam 61 moves to permit spring I" toswing the drop rolls 69 down to operative position and to raise droprolls 59 away from operative position. Weighted arm II2 then turns shaftto bring trigger 86 back into position to engage beneath rod 81 whenthat rod is lifted, as it will be as soon as the high spot of cam 66moves away from the follower 96. The spring, not illustrated, whichholds the follower 96 against the cam face then lifts crank 93 and lever89 and thus rod 81. The stitching mechanism which is driven by shaft I1and the intermittent feed which is driven by shaft I! through theintermediary of shaft 26 are now functioning to form stitches and makefeed movements alternately. The cam shaft 69 continues to turn throughabout a half revolution, when the high spot of cam 69 comes intoposition to close switch This interrupts the operation of the controlmechanism, for the circuit-I3I is thereby completed and the solenoid I32energized, which causes throw-out rod 65 to disengage clutch 64 againstthe action ofspring I36. Cam shaft 69 then ceases to rotate and remainsstationary while itself functioning at the proper time to inaugurate theoperation of the stopping means, that is to say when one of the elementsbeing stitched, a side seam fiap for example, runs past one of thefingers 58 or 59 and permits that finger to establish the circuit I21through ground. Then relay I29 is energized and the high voltage circuitI3I is broken. Solenoid I32 then ceases to act and spring I36 withdrawsthrow-out rod 55 so that clutch 64 again grips shaft 60 and the rotationof that shaft is resumed. This inaugurates the operation of the stoppingmechanism. Switch I23 is then lowered to inoperative position ready forthe next work operation. Cam shaft 60 turns through approximately 180,during which time two more stitches and one more feeding operation areperformed. At the end of the revolution of the cam shaft the high spotof cam 66 functions through the cranks 95 and 93 to swing lever 89 onits central pivot and thereby raise throw-out rod 2I to disengage themain clutch, when the stitching and feeding mecha-' nisms of coursecease to operate. The follower I at the same time comes to rest in thedepression of cam 61, thereby permitting shaft I04 to turncounter-clockwise under the influence-of spring II! which raises thetrip bar 1t and trip finger 10 to operative position. At this time alsothe high spot of cam 68, working through cranks H4, H6 and I2Ioscillates rock shaft 52 to raise rolls 49 and lower rolls 50. Thelatter rolls then impart traction to the rollers 3I with which the workis in contact and these rollers, which rotate constantly, act to quicklydeliver the work to a pile or to a conveyor, not shown. The machine isthen in readiness for the introduction of another work piece. Themachine functions rapidly enough so that it disposes of the work asquickly as the operator is able to fold the blanks and insert them intothe machine.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 11, the means for operating themain clutch 20 is largely electrical rather than mechanical, as in thefirst described form of the invention. Also the clutch control cam 66and the cam for withdrawing the trip finger 'are replaced by switchoperating cams or timing wheels. The electrical connections are somewhatdifferent than in Fig. 10, but in other respects the two systems aresubstantially the same.

In this figure the main clutch throw-out rod 2 l is shown in theposition for disengaging the clutch 20, being urged to that position bya coil spring I40 which surrounds the rod and bears at its upper endagainst a collar I4I on the rod and at its lower end against a fixedabutment I42. The lower end of rod 2I is pivotally connected to one endof a lever I43 the other end of which is pivotally mounted on a fixedelement I44 of the machine. An armature I45 is connected to the leverI43 intermediate the ends of the latter, this armature cooperating witha solenoid I46 mounted between two electric conductors I41 and I48 whichtakes current from a service line. When solenoid I46 is energized, rod2| is withdrawn downwardly and clutch 20 is engaged. When the solenoidis deenergized, spring I40 acts to disengage the clutch.

A pair of conductors I49 and I50 connect with the wires I41 and I48 andextend to solenoid I32 which when energized disengages clutch 64, thespring I38 acting to engage the clutch when the solenoid is deenergized.In conductor I49 there is a switch II controlled by a solenoid I52 in alow voltage circuit comprising conductors I53 and I54, the secondary ofa step-down transformer I55, anvil plate 55, and spring finger 59. Whenthe parts 55 and 59 as well as 51 and 58 are separated by a work piece,solenoid I52 is deenergized and switch I5I is closed. Conductor I50 alsoincludes the switch I23 which is adapted to be closed by cam 69 as inthe first described form of the invention.

Solenoid I46 controlling the main clutch is arranged to be energized bythe introduction of work into the machine and .to be deenerglzed by theaction of a cam or timing wheel 66. As in the first described form ofthe invention, the rotation of cam shaft 60 is begun at the beginning ofa work cycle, is discontinued after about a half revolution, and isresumed when the work approaches the position for the last stitch, thisresumption being controlled by th reengagement of spring finger 59 withplate when the work travels out from between them.

From wire I48 a conductor I55 leads to one contact of each of two pairsof contacts I51 and I58. From the other contact I51 a conductor I59extends to one of a pair of contacts I60 and to one of a pair of contactI6I. The remaining contacts of these two pairs are connected through aconductor I62 and a solenoid I63 to wire I41. An armature I64 controlledby solenoid I63 is adapted when the solenoid-is energized to bridgecontacts I60 and simultaneously to bridge a pair of contacts I65 in wireI48.

Contacts IGI are arranged to be bridged by a switch plate I66 on the endof a rod I81 which is slidably mounted in the machine. This rod carriesa collar I68 which is engaged by a coil spring I69 that bears againstan. abutment I10, thereby'tending to hold the switch plate I56 out ofengagement with contacts I6I. On the opposite end of rod I61 there ispivotally mounted a trip I1I. A bracket I12 fixed on the rod carries anarmature latch I13. This latch under the influence of a coil spring I14tends to remain in the position illustrated. A tension spring I 15 tendsto maintain the trip I1I in the position shown. Latch I13 may bewithdrawn from operative position by a solenoid I16 connected into aconductor I11 which extends upwardly to one of the contacts I58. ContactI51 are normally bridged by a switch plate I18 which bears upon the camor timing wheel 66', and contacts I58 are arranged to be opened orclosed by a switch plate I19 which bears upon a cam or timing wheel 61'.

In this form of the invention, when the operator inserts a work pieceinto the machine, the spring fingers 58 and 59 are separated from the 7plates 55 and 51 thereby causing the closing of switch I5I. The movementof the work piece a little further causes its forward edge to engagetrip I1I above its pivot. Since the trip is then held by latch I13 fromturning on its pivot, the

rod I61 with its bracket I12 and the latch I13 with the solenoid I16 allmove toward the left against the action of spring I69, closing thecontacts I6I. A circuit is thereby set up from wire I48 throughconductor I56, closed contacts I51, conductor I59, contacts I6I,conductor I62 to solenoid I63 and back to wire I41. This closes contactsI65 and contacts I60. Solenoid I46 is thereby energized and the mainclutch is engaged. Shaft I1 then begins to rotate and to cause therotation of shaft 60. Switch plate I19 then rises and bridges contacts I58 which energizes solenoid I16, withdrawing latch I13. The stitchingand feeding operations begin. The first feed movement causes the work toswing trip I1I down about its pivot, after which the rod I81 returns. toits original position under the influence of spring I59. This breaks thecircuit at contacts ISI, but the circuit through solenoid I53 is lockedin at the contacts I50 and accordingly the contacts I85 remain bridged.The alternate stitching and feeding operations continue and cam shaft 60revolves through part of a revolution or until switch I23 closes underthe action of cam 58. Thereupon solenoid I32 is energized and clutch 65is disengaged, stopping the rotation of cam shaft 60. The machinecontinues to operate alternately stitching and feeding the work untilthe travel of the tail end of the work out from between one or the otherof fingers 58 and 59 and its plate 55 or 51 completes the circuitthrough solenoid I52, thereby opening the circuit through solenoid I32,which permits spring- I36 to again cause the engagement of clutch 54.The shaft 60 then resumes its rotation, switch plate I19 descends todeenergize solenoid I16 and permit latch I13 to rise to operativeposition. Switch I23 also opens. Near the end of the revolution of shaft50 the depression in cam 56' separates contacts I51, causingdeenergization of solenoid I63 and the consequent opening of thecontacts I65 and deenergiza-tion of main clutch solenoid I46. Spring I40then raises rod I2I' into position to disengage the clutch after afurther portion-of a revolution of shaft If, which further portioncarries the depression in cam 65' past the switch plate I18, so thatcontacts I51 are again engaged before rotation stops. Also cam 68 actsto raise drop rollers 49 and lower. drop rollers 59 to make effectivethe action of delivery rollers 3|, as heretofore described.

It will be observed that in stitching the side seam of a box that one ofthe fingers 58 and 59 which rides upon the flap isqthe one whichinaugurates the stopping action. Since there are two of these fingerspositioned at the same point in ,the path of travel of the work the flapmay be less in detail certain particular embodiments of my invention, Idesire it to be understood that such detailed disclosure is for thepurpose primarily of complying with the requirements of the statute, thescope of the invention being determined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In an automatic wirestitcher, a shaft, work feeding mechanism and work stitching mechanismarranged to be operated alternately through said shaft, means set inmotion-by the introduction of work into the machine for applying powerto said shaft, and means dependent upon work travel subsequent to theformation of the first stitch and set in motion before the last feedpower means after the making of the last stitch. 2. In an automatic wirestitcher, stitching and i work feeding mechanisms operating alternatelythe first stitch for setting said control mechanism in operation. 7

3. In an automatic wire stitcher, a shaft, work feeding mechanism andwork stitchingmechanism arranged to be operated alternately through saidshaft, means set in motion by the introduce.

tion of work into the machine for applying power to said shaft, controlmechanism adapted to benecting said power means after the controlmechanism has proceeded through a predetermined .cycle, and meansdependent upon work travel subsequent to the formation of the firststitch for causing said control mechanism to function to disconnect saidpower means after the final Y stitch is made.

4. In an automatic wire stitcher, a shaft, work feeding mechanism. andwork stitching mechanism arranged to be operated alternately throughsaid shaft, means set in motion by the introduction of work into themachine for applying power to said shaft, control mechanism adapted tobe operatively connected with said shaft for disconnecting said powermeans after the control mechanism has proceeded through a predeterminedcycle, and means dependent upon work travel subsequent to the formationof the first stitch for operatively' connecting said control mecha- Imovement is instituted for disconnecting said to form a series of spacedstitches, means dependent upon the insertion of a work piece into mustpass through a predetermined cycle before it can become effective tostop the stitch- I ing and feeding operations, and means dependent 7upon work travel subsequent to the formation of nism to said shaft priorto the final stitching operation, said control mechanism being arrangedto disconnect said power means after the final stitch is made. v

5. In .an automatic wire stitcher, a motor,-a driven shaft, a clutchintermediate said motor and driven shaft, work feeding mechanismopermeans for interrupting the operation of the con;

trol mechanism prior to the completion of its cycle, and means dependentupon the'work travel prior to the final stitching operation for resumingthe operation of said control mechanism.

6. In an automatic wire stitcher, a motor, a driven shaft, a clutchintermediate said motor and driven shaft,'work feeding mechanismoperated through said driven shaft, stitching mechanism operated throughsaid driven shaft, means set in motion by the introduction of work intothe machinefcr engaging said clutch, control mechanism operativelyconnected with said 'driven shaft for disengaging said clutch at the endof a predetermined cycle of operation 'of they a control mechanism,automatic means for inter f rupting the operation of the controlmechanism I at a predetermined point in its cycle,;and means dependentupon work travel prior" to the final the operation of stitchingoperation for resuming said control mechanism.

- 7. Inan automatic wire stitcher, a motor, "a driven shaft, a clutchintermediate said motor and driven shaft, work feeding mechanism oper-'ated through said driven shaft, stitching mecha-;

nism operated through said driven shaft, means set in motion by theintroduction of work into the machine for engaging, said clutch,automati- 1 cally started control mechanism for disengaging said clutch.at the end of a predetermined cycle of operation of the controlmechanism, auto- 5 matic means for interrupting the operation of thecontrol mechanism priortothe completion of its .1

cycle, and means dependent upon work travel for resuming the operationof said control mechanism when the position for the last stitch arrivesat a predetermined distance from the stitching point.

8. In an automatic wire stitcher, a motor, a driven shaft, a clutchintermediate said motor and driven shaft, work feeding mechanismoperated through said driven shaft, stitching mechanism operated throughsaid driven shaft, means set in motion by the introduction of work intothe machine for engaging said clutch, control mechanism operativelyconnected with said driven shaft for disengaging said clutch at the endof a predetermined cycle of operation of the control mechanism,automatic means for interrupting the operation of the control mechanismat a given point in its cycle, and means dependent upon work travel forresuming the operation of said control mechanism in time to drive. apredetermined number of stitches before the clutch is disengaged.

9. In an automatic wire stitcher, a motor, a driven shaft, work feedingmechanism and work stitching mechanism operated .through said drivenshaft, control mechanism for stopping said feeding and stitchingmechanisms, means dependent upon the insertion of work into the machinefor starting the machine and inaugurating the operation of said controlmechanism.

means inherent in the control mechanism for interrupting its operationat a predetermined point in its cycle, and means dependent upon thetravel of the work through the machine for resuming the operation of thecontrol mecha-- nism at a predetermined point in that travel.

10. In an automatic wire stitcher, a shaft,

work feeding mechanism and wire stitching mechanism arranged to beoperated alternately through said shaft -to form a series of aligned,

nism has proceeded through a given cycle, a

clutch for connecting said control mechanism with said shaft, automaticmeans for disconnect ing said clutch after the shaft begins itsrotation, and means set in motion by the travel of the work through themachine for engaging said clutch before the position for the last stitchreaches the stitching point.

11. In an automatic wire stitcher, a motor, a driven shaft, a clutchintermediate said motor and driven shaft, work feeding mechanism andwork stitching mechanism operated through said driven shaft, means setin motion by the introduction of work into the machine for engaging saidclutch, control mechanism operatively connected with said driven shaftfor disengaging said clutch at the end of a predetermined cycle ofoperation of the control mechanism, automatic means independent of worktravel for interrupting the operation of the control mechanism at apredetermined point in its cycle, and means dependent upon work travelprior to the final stitching operation for resuming the operation ofsaid control mechanism.

12. In an automatic wire stitcher, a shaft, work feeding mechanism andwork stitching mechanism arranged to be operated alternately throughsaid shaft, means set in motion by the introduction of work into themachine for applying power to said shaft, means operating at the end ofa predetermined cycle for disconnecting said power means, and anelectric circuit including a switch arranged to be operated by thetravel of .work through the machine for setting said disconnecting meansin motion before the last stitch is made.

13. In a machine for stitching down a box side seam flap either insideor outside of the adjacent box side, an open stitcher had, upwardly anddownwardly extending fingers carried by said head normally closing acircuit, said fingers being adapted to be diverted away from circuitclosing position, one by a box side and the other by said flap, andmeans under the control of said circuit for automatically stopping thestitching mechanism at the end of the seam.

14. In an automatic wire stitcher, a motor,

stitching'and work feeding mechanisms operative alternately, a mainclutch intermediate said motor and said mechanisms, control means foruncoupling said main clutch, an auxiliary clutch for said control means,and means actuated by movement of the work for controlling saidauxiliary clutch.

15. In an automatic wire stitcher, a motor, stitching and work feedingmechanisms operative alternately, a clutch intermediate said motor andmechanisms, means actuated by the work article for coupling said clutch,means for uncoupling said clutch and electrical means actuated by thework article for setting said uncoupling means in operation.

16. In an automatic wire stitcher, a motor, a

' driven shaft, a clutch intermediate said motor the table, a workfeeding roller extending up-- wardly through the table, a deliveryroller extending upwardly through the table behind said feeding roller,means controlled by movement of the work for rendering said feedingroller and .said stitcher operative, and means for rendering saidstitching mechanism and feeding roller inoperative and said deliveryroller operative, said last named means being disconnected automaticallyafter the machine is started and being resumed by work travel.

18.'In an automatic wire stitcher, a motor, a driven shaft, a mainclutch intermediate said motor and driven shaft, work feeding mechanismand work stitching mechanism operated alternately from said drivenshaft, a cam shaft, a

clutch for operatively connecting said shafts, electrical means forcontrolling the engagement and disengagement of said main clutch andsaid cam shaft clutch, means actuated by the introduction of work intothe machine for causing said electrical means to engage said mainclutch, said cam shaft at the end of a complete revolution being adaptedto set said electrical means in operation to disengage said main clutch,timing means operated by said cam shaft for causing said electricalmeans to disengage the cam shaft clutch after the cam shaft hascompleted a predetermined portion of a revolution, and

means operated by work travel for causing said electrical means toreengage said cam shaft clutch. Y

19. In a machine for stitching together two side edges of a box blank,an open stitcher head,

an electric circuit comprising a spring finger car-- ried by said headand normally in circuit closing position, said finger being adapted tobe diverted away from circuit closing position by one 01 said box edges,and means under the control of the circuit when said finger returns tonormal position after the passing of said box side edge forautomatically stopping the stitching mechanism.

WILLIAM R. SPILL-ER.

